Alzheimer’s Safe Return Program

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas from throughout the state of Minnesota have been very active in securing funds for the Alzheimer’s Safe Return Kits. Since 1995, you may have seen these ladies out and about in the middle of October (some years 20 degree weather) in their little white aprons and donation containers, looking for contributions. In return for a donation, one received a bag of gummi bears. Since 1995 the Minnesota Catholic Daughters of the Americas have received $57,218.68 in gummi bear donations. What do these ladies do with the money they receive from these gummi bears? It is used to purchase Alzheimer’s Safe Return Kits.

Wandering is a common and potential life-threatening behavior that may accompany Alzheimers disease. Not every person with Alzheimer’s disease wanders, but each year numerous instances of lost, memory-impaired persons are reported. Some people are quickly found while others remain lost for days, weeks, even months. Sometimes the person is never recovered.

The Alzheimers Association Safe Return program is the only nationwide program specifically created to help identify and return to their loved ones individuals who are memory impaired due to Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder.

Through a grant provided by the Minnesota State Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the initial registration fee of $40 will be covered for any family needing these services.

The program provides registered Alzheimer’s patients and families with:

• An identity bracelet or necklace with the name of the program on the front and the person’s name, a unique ID number, the words, "Memory Impaired," and the emergency 800 number on the back.

• Iron-on clothing labels with the same information as on the bracelet.

• Wallet ID Cards for the person with Alzheimer’s disease and his or her caregiver with important identification information and the program’s 800 number.

• Registration in a National Database of important personal and emergency contact information to help reunite lost persons with their caregivers no matter where they wander.

• Access to a 24-Hour Toll-Free 800 Number to contact when an individual is lost or found. Refrigerator magnets and key chains which carry the program’s logo and emergency 800 number will be part of the registration packet.

• A Nationwide Alert System using the National Crime Information Computer, a network of 17,000 local law enforcement agencies.

• A nationwide network of more than 200 community-based Alzheimer’s Association chapters to provide education, training, and support to Alzheimer’s families and caregivers.

Today Alzheimers affects more than four million Americans and that number could double as the baby boomer generation reaches age 55 plus, the years of greater risk. There is nothing to prevent the disease’s slow, steady and deteriorating progression. There are estimated to be 90,000 people in Minnesota with Alzheimers.

Think about what it would be like to lose your memories of holidays past . . . to not be able to recall a single family gathering or celebration or to recognize family members?